Row seating



ROW SEATING 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTORS Chas? J. Barecku Wlliam 8. Linberg BY Qua/whim l ATTORNEYS BARECKI ETAL May 9, 1967 Filed May 9, 1966WITNESS May 9, 1967 c. J. BARECKI ETAL 3,318,635

1 ROW SEATING 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed May 9, 1966 13 M Chester J. BareckiENTORS Wiilium S. L'ndberg BY zawon),

.5 ATTORNEYS WITNESS Ala/m 5.

y 9, 1967 c. 1. BARECK! ETAL 3,318,635

ROW SEATING Filed May 9, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 F! ENTORS Chasm? d.Bares-k? Wiiliam S. Lindbe'rg WITNESS BY m (IL-[$119, Fwflmv,

ATTORNEYS y 9, 1967 c. J. BARECKI ETAL 3,318,635

ROW S EATING Filed May 9 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. i5

INVENTORS (Imam? J. arcki Wiiiiam 3. Liner WITNESS v BY 1 d /0,0176. Zbmu M ATTORNEYS United States Patent O ROW SEATING Chester J. Barecki andWilliam S. Lindberg, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignors to American SeatingCompany, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of New Jersey Filed May 9,1966, Ser. No. 548,686 4 Claims. (Cl. 297446) This invention relates torow seating, and more particularly to combination row seating in theform of cushioned pews, auditorium seats, and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel form of row seatinghaving important advantages. A further object is to provide an elongatedseat structure providing a continuous cushion and seat back cushions. Astill further object is to provide a sturdy seat structure in whichU-shaped feet or seat pedestals are unified in a cushionsupporting framestructure while also supporting a common seat back within the framebody. A still further object is to provide in a church pew or auditoriumrow seat structure a novel frame and seat-supporting means withsuspended ends and with the seat back integrated with the frame andsupport means. Other specific objetcs and advantages will appear as thespecification proceeds.

The invention is shown in illustrative embodiments by the accompanyingdrawings, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a seat structureequipped with back pads and embodying our invention; FIG. 2, a viewsimilar to FIG. 1 but showing the rear of the seat structure; FIG. 3, aview similar to FIG. 1 but showing a modified form of the seat structurein which floor-supported ends for the seat are provided and the back isflat and free of the individual pads; FIG. 4, a broken front view inelevation of the structure shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 5, a view similar toFIG. 4 but showing the rear of the seat structure in elevation and withone end of the seat structure broken away; FIG. 6, a detail sectionalview, the section being taken as indicated at line 6-6 of FIGS. 4 andFIG. 7, a detail sectional view, the section being taken as indicated atline 7-7 of. FIG. 5; FIG. 8, a detail sectional view, the section beingtaken at line 8-8 of FIG. 6; FIG. 9, a view similar to FIG. 8 butshowing a modified form of construction; FIG. 10, a vertical sectionalview, the section being taken as indicated at line 1010 of FIG. 4; FIG.11, a detailsectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line11-11 of FIGS. 4 and 13; FIG. 12, a detail sectional view, the sectionbeing taken as indicated at line 1212 of FIGS. 4 and 13; FIG. 13, aperspective view of the rear portion of the individual back pad; FIG.14, a broken rear view in elevation of a portion of a divided seat backshowing the leg support structure at the line of division of the seatback; FIG. 15, a view similar to FIG. 14 but showing a modified form ofmeans for joining the sections of the seat back; FIG. 16, a view similarto FIG. 14 but showing the front side of the seat structure inelevation; FIG. 17, a vertical sectional view, the section being takenas indicated at line 1717 of FIGS. 14 and 16; FIG. 18, a detailsectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 1818 ofFIG. 14; and FIG. 19, a detail sectional view, the section being takenas indicated at line 19-19 of FIG. 15.

In the seat structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an elongated cushion body10 is supported upon U-shaped seat bases or feet 11. Supportedrearwardly of the cushion 10 is a seat back 12 provided with individualback cushions 13 suspended from the ends of the seat structure or theseat ends 14.

In FIG. 3 there is shown a modified form of the invention in which theseat ends extend to the floor and 3 ,3 18,635 Patented ,May 9, 1 967provide end supports for the seat frame. The back 16 is aplain flat backstructure free of back cushions. A U-shaped support leg 11 extendsbetween the supporting ends 15. It will be understood that any number ofsupport legs 11 may be employed.

In the preferred form of structure shown in FIGS; 1 and 2, the entiresupport for the seat is provided by the U-shaped leg members 11. The legmembers 11 are provided at their rear with a leg extension or upright 17which extends to the rear of the seat back 12 to provide a supporttherefor. The detailed structure is shown best in FIGS. 6 to 10inclusive and will now be described in connection with these figures.

Supported by the U-shaped leg structure 11 is a tubular front rail 18and a tubular rear rail 19. The front portion of leg 11 is provided atits top with a bracket 20, and a screw 21 extends through the bracketand the tube 18 to secure the parts together. Welded to the rear portionof leg 11 is a forwardly-extending bracket 22 having a top flangethrough which a screw 23 extends to unite it with the rear rail tube 19.

To rigidly unite the rails and thereby the top portions of the 'U-shapedleg '11, we provide channel cross members 24 which are welded to therails 18 and 19 and extend at spaced distances between the rails, asshown best in FIG. 4. The channel members 24, which may be formed ofsteel or any suitable metal,.are downwardly dished in their centralportion, as shown best in FIGS. 6 and 10, to provide a flexing area intowhich the cushion above may move. The cushion 10 is shown supported by aconvex spring suspension 25. We prefer to employ serpentine, non-saggingtype of springs having connecting clips 26 uniting them in a broadsupporting spring body. The ends of'the spring body 25 may be connectedto the front and rear rails by the use of clips 27, and the clips may beanchored to.the rails by any suitable means. As illustrated in FIG. 8,the clip is bent at. 28 and extended through an opening 29 in the frontof the rail 18.

In the illustration given in FIG. 9, the clip 27a has a front flat side30 which is welded to the front of the rail 18. In a similar manner, thespring body 25 may be anchored to the rear rail 19. 1 r

In the assembly of the seat portion of the structure, we unite the railswith the cross beams orchannels 24 to form a rigid frame assembly. Theend cross channels 2411 are provided with key-shaped openings 31 whichare useful for securing the ends 14 thereon. The end 14 is furthersecured to the back 12 by a screw extending through the bracket 14a. Thesuspension spring structure 25 is secured in convex position, as shownin FIGS. 6, 8 and 10. The cushion body -10 may then be secured inposition. The foam cushion body 10a is preferably molded at its bottomto a burlap or cloth material 32, and the foam body is covered with acloth cover 10b. We prefer to anchor both the cover 10b and the burlap32 to the rails 18 and 19 by cementing them thereto, as shown best inFIGS. 8, 9 and 10.

With the cushion and frame structure assembly, as just described, theparts may be united to the U-shaped seat base 11, -as shown in FIG, 6.Screws 21 may be employed for uniting the front leg portion by means ofthe bracket 20 with the front rail 18, and similarly by means of theforwardly-extending bracket 22 screws 23 may be employed for unitingsuch brackets with the rear rail 19.

By means of the elongated and forwardly-extending bracket 22 which iswelded to the rear portion of leg structure 11, there is provided a slotor space between the rail 19 and the upright extension portion 17 of theleg body 11. Into the slots thus provided between the uprights 17 andrear rails 19, we extend the bottom portion of the seat back 12, asshown 'best in FIG. 6. Screws 33 are passed through the leg extension 17and into the seat back 12 to secure these parts together. In order tofurther unite the seat back 12 directly to the rear rail 19, we providethe seat back with suspension brackets 34 at intermediate points, asshown best in FIG. 7 and FIG. 4.

If the seat back 12 is to be provided with individual seat cushions 13,the back 12 is provided with screws 35 and the back cushions 13 areprovided with metal plates 36 provided with keyhole openings 37 adaptedto receive the screws 35. The lower ends of the metal plates 36 areprovided with apertured tabs 38 through which screws may be passed tosecure the cushions in place. The cushions may be formed in any suitablemanner. We prefer to employ cushion bodies 39 enclosed by covers 40, thecovers being extended behind the plate 36 before the cushion pads aresecured in position, all as illustrated in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13.

In elongated church pews, it is necessary to employ a 7 divided backwhich is shown in FIGS 14-17 as back portions 12a and 12b. To unite thetwo portions, we provide a dowel 41,- and we utilize the U-shaped legextension 17 to bring it over the line of junction between the backparts 12a and 12b. A plate 42 is provided with spaced openings throughwhich screws 43 are extended, as shown best in FIG. 16. The legextension 17 is then secured to the plate 42 by means of thread-cuttingscrews 44. If desired, and for decorative purposes, a cover plate 45 maybe employed, as shown best in FIGS. 15 and 19. 'The plate 45 is recessedto receive the connector plate 42 and decora- 7 tive panel 420thereabove, and the outer ends of the plate 45 are secured by smallnails to the back parts 12a and 12b.

In FIG. 17, there is shown a portion of the modification set out in FIG.3 wherein the back 12 consists of a plain fiat body and with which backcushions are not employed.

In the foregoing structure, the U-shaped support leg structure with itsupright extension 17 is buttressed against springing or yielding by therigid cross channels 24 and 24a, while at the same time providing railspermitting sliding movement 'of the pews if this should be needed.Further, by anchoring the rear rail forwardly of the uprights 17,channels are provided in which the seat back is securely anchored and,braced by the rail structure.

While the tubular rail and leg structures may be of relativelylightweight metal, these members are united in an extremely sturdystructure by the rigid cross beams or channels 24 and 24a, and theentire'frame thus provided is assembled in a sturdy interlock with theseat back 12.

While in the foregoing structure we have set out embodiments of theinvention in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating theinvention, it will be understood rails to provide a seat frame, legsupport means secured to said front tubular rail and extending upwardlyabove said seat frame at the rear and spaced outwardly from said rearrail, bracket support means secured to said rear leg means and extendingforwardly and to a point below said tubular rear rail and providingbetween said rail and said rear leg extension a back-support socket, a

seat back supported within said socket between said rear rail and rearleg extension, and .means for securing said rear rail to said bracketmeans.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which the bracket means is provided witha horizontal flange through which attachment members extend into therear tubular rail.

3. In a row seating structure, a pair of spaced longitudinally-extendingfront and rear tubular rails, said rails being generally rectangular incross section, cross channel members secured to said rails to provide aseat frame, a seat member carried by said frame, legs supporting saidrails at an elevated position with the rear leg portion extendedupwardly above said seat to provide a back support, bracket meanscarried by said rear leg portion ex- 7 tending forwardly and under saidrear rail to'provide a socket space therebetween, and a seat back,supported between said rear leg extension and said rear rail on saidbracket means.

4. The structure of claim 3 in which said bracket and front leg portionare provided with horizontal flanges adjacent the tubular rails andscrew connector means extend through said flanges and into saidrectangular rails.

References Cited by the Examiner CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A ROW SEATING STRUCTURE, A PAIR OF SPACED LONGITUDINALLY-EXTENDINGFRONT AND REAR TUBULAR RAILS, CROSS CHANNEL MEMBERS SECURED AT THEIRENDS TO SAID TUBULAR RAILS TO PROVIDE A SEAT FRAME, LEG SUPPORT MEANSSECURED TO SAID FRONT TUBULAR RAIL AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY ABOVE SAIDSEAT FRAME AT THE REAR AND SPACED OUTWARDLY FROM SAID REAR RAIL, BRACKETSUPPORT MEANS SECURED TO SAID REAR LEG MEANS AND EXTENDING FORWARDLY ANDTO A POINT BELOW SAID TUBULAR REAR RAIL AND PROVIDING BETWEEN SAID RAILAND SAID REAR LEG EXTENSION A BACK-SUPPORT SOCKET, A SEAT BACK SUPPORTEDWITHIN SAID SOCKET BETWEEN SAID REAR RAIL AND REAR LEG EXTENSION, ANDMEANS FOR SECURING SAID REAR RAIL TO SAID BRACKET MEANS.